Top 10 Landing Spots for Current Free Agents

Albert Mattheis

05/07

Visits: 1197

10.) S Tre Boston to Buffalo Bills

Former Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston got cut by his former team, but could be reunited with his former DC Sean McDermott in Buffalo. The Bills could use an experienced safety of Boston's caliber, and Boston could use a job. Win-win.

9.) G/T Orlando Franklin to Colts

The Colts have a very valuable asset in Andrew Luck, which makes it all the more confusing as to why they aren't protecting him. Luck's offensive line play has been so bad that he actually suffered a lacerated kidney from getting hit so much. Orlando Franklin isn't the dominant trenchman that he once was in Denver, and after a disappointing stint with the Chargers he finds himself back on the free-agent market. The Colts made a reasonable offensive line investment in the 2016 draft by selecting center Kelly in the first round, but the play on the right side of line needs a major boost at both guard and tackle, and Franklin is worth kicking the tires on.

8.) CB Jason McCourtey to the Eagles

In a surprising move by the Titans this offseason, they purposefully lost their most competent defensive back by cutting CB Jason McCourtey.

Many have speculated that the Patriots will sign him to unite him with his Pro bowl FS twin brother Devin McCourtey. While this is intriguing to think about, I think it makes more sense for the Philadelphia Eagles to sign him. The Eagles have virtually no reliable CB's on their roster, and could fill an immediate hole with this experienced play making veteran. Eagles GM Howie Roseman rarely does the things I want for him so this move is not entirely likely. However, it does make sense for both sides and whoever signs McCourtey will get an experienced starting corner who can also play FS on day 1.

7.) G/T Austin Pasztor to Seahawks

In a similar situation to Andrew Luck, Seahawks QB Russel Wilson has been getting destroyed these past few years, having taken at least 40 sacks in each of the past two seasons. In total rebuild mode, the Browns cut a young and competent offensive lineman in Austin Pasztor, and he has yet to find a new home. Maybe teams are following the logic that "The Browns suck and if hes not good enough for them then we def can't bring him in or else other teams will laugh at us." But then again, speedy Falcons WR Taylor Gabriel was cut by the Browns in the preason of 2016. So even with all of their 2017 draft hype and Moneyball-mystique, the front office in Cleveland doesn't know everything and could have let a "real one" go in Pasztor. The Seahawks have the leagues best O-Line coach in Tom Cable and they should feed him young and moldable talent to work with, starting with this former Brown.

6.) TE Gary Barnidge to Jets

Hours after welcoming new TE David Njoku to the Browns on Twitter, Barnidge was ruthlessly cut by the organization. As highlighted in the previous slide, the Browns have cut talented players in the past and it is likely that Barnidge still has a lot to offer. Enter the New York Jets, a team with no offensive prowess what-so-ever who lost their main source of offense this offseason by failing to re-sign WR Brandon Marshall. The Jets are especially devoid at the TE position, and after former 2nd round pick Jace Amero didn't seem to be the answer, the Jets need to go back to the drawing board. I'm not in their front office, but I can think of a way they could add a talented player at the position: sign Gary Barnidge! He runs crisp routes, can catch the football, is a total redzone threat that isn't afraid to get his jersey dirty in the running game.

5.) Patriots trade for Jets DE Sheldon Richardson

The Jets have been aggressively shopping Richardson for years now. Even though he is arguable the 3rd most talented player on the team, the top two other players also ironically play his position, making his somewhat dispensable. There were leaks of Richardson getting in a fight with WR Brandon Marshall last year that cast a black cloud over the Jets locker room for the entire rest of the season. Who is a coach who takes risks on players with character concerns and coaches them into playing at a high level? Bill Belichick of the Patriots.

Sources have told me that the Patriots locker room environment is non-conducive to dancing and having fun, and the businesslike nature doesn't let players express themselves heavily for better or worse. This leads to a culture of winning, and also minimizes the impact a troubled but talented player like Richardson could affect team chemistry.

The Patriots have a championship window closing with Tom Brady presumably retiring at some point before he turns 60, and so New England would be smart to invest in as many dominant forces around him that they can. Richardson is a perfect fit for Belichicks hybrid defensive scheme, and he would likely move him all-along the line to play different positions.

Even though it would probably pain the Jets to give their unstoppable division rivals the Patriots a talented player who would excel there, they likely want to cut bait on the talented player and also get something in return for it. Since the Jets are unlikely to beat the Patriots or win the division anytime soon, this makes sense for both parties.

4.) WR Anquan Boldin to Ravens

After the Lions opted not to resign Boldin, who was productive for them last year, it became even more evident that they were moving on from him when they gave his number away to a rookie that they signed (Resident Lions expert Austin Vershel could give more information on who the player is)

The Ravens are in desperate need of offensive weapons after failing to draft a wide receiver early in the 2017 draft, and Boldin needs a job since he still has some good games left in the tank.

Boldin has played in Baltimore before, and showed great chemistry with QB Flacco during the Ravens incredible 2012 playoff run. A reunion here makes sense for both sides, as bringing Boldin back is a low-risk high-reward move for a team that could afford to take a few more risks.

3.) Johnny Manziel to the Saints

Coach Sean Payton had dinner with Manziel a few months ago as a "preliminary meeting" for both parties to meet eachother. Drew Brees likely only has a few years left in the league, and the Saints would be smart to add a talented back up to sit in the QB with Brees for a few years and absorb his greatness.

Johnny Manziel in New Orleans isn't the best situation due to his partying and irresponsible nature (Once faked sick and went to Las Vegas instead of traveling with his team for a Week 17 game), but it is true that if you want something bad enough you will figure out a way to get it. This statement can have two meanings here:

1.) If Manziel truly wants to party, as his actions show he does, then he will find a way to due this no matter where he is.

2.) If Manziel truly wants to make a comeback, as his words say he does, then he will find a way to put in the work and stay out of trouble if a team gives him another chance.

Another low-risk high-reward move that I love thinking about. Imagine the plays Sean Payton could execute with a disciplined and mature Manziel under center.

2.) Darrel Revis to the Patriots

Revis seems to have lost a step after this past year with the Jets. The Jets responded to this by cutting him.

Although he will never return to the All-Pro shutdown corner he once was, the Patriots would be smart to ink him to a 1-year deal.

He has already showed familiarity and leadership in coach Belichicks scheme when the Patriots won the 2015 super bowl with him.

The Patriots defense does not demand that cornerbacks be extremely fast, and Revises athletic shortcomings will be masked by what he is asked to do.

The last time the Patriots inked Revis to a 1 year contract they won a Superbowl, and if history really repeats itself as teachers have tried to tell me in the past then they will win the superbowl again if they resign him.

1.) LB Deandre Levy to the Raiders

Raiders HC Jack Del Rio said after the draft that the team still doesn't have a "True middle linebacker." After letting former superbowl MVP Malcom Smith walk in free agency, and neglecting to draft a top linebacker with either of their top picks (Vanderbilt LB Zach Cunningham was still on the board when the Raiders picked in the 2nd round), the Raiders still have to address this weakness on their roster before they can take the next step and reach the Superbowl.

DeAndre Levy has experience playing off-ball linebacker in a 4-3 scheme from his time in Detroit, and when healthy was the best linebacker on the Lions. However, the "healthy" part is less of a given and more of a liability, which caused the Lions to cut Levy in this offseason.

Adding Levy to the roster would be a huge move if he could stay healthy, and he would become the new signal caller for a young and talented Raiders defense. GM Reggie McKenzie is one of the best in the league, and if he took this advice from me and it worked out he could be cemented as an all time great.

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Comment

Austin Vershel

I think the Jets will be happy rolling out rookie Jordan Leggett to develop. Barnidge would be a great fit in Arizona. I love Levy and he was an awesome player, but he hasn't played in nearly 3 years. I really want Sheldon Richardson on the Lions even for one year.

Albert Mattheis

Leggett is an unknown and the offense needs to add a veteran pass-catcher. Barnidge would be not only a good fit but also an upgrade for over half of the teams in the league, the Jets are my favorite landing spot for him.
Sheldon Richardson would be a great add for the Lions talent wise, but it's important that he goes to a team with a strong veteran leadership in the locker room. Can't let him have an impact over the team culture, he's allegedly a huge chemistry-poison.

Austin Vershel

Also, it should be noted that Richardson is in the final year of his loaded contract. Any team that tries to trade for him must be sure that they can re-sign him.

Austin Vershel

I also believe that the Saints won't be in the market for a QB. They have Luke McCown and he might get cut in favor of recently signed Chase Daniels who is pretty good.

Tony Garcia

damn, imagine Richardson to the patriots

Albert Mattheis

@Austin Chase Daniels isn't a starter bro
@Tony Would be scary, Right? Almost makes too much sense for it to happen. He's in the last year of his contract, so whatever team hypothetically trades for him would have to be confident that they could resign him next off-season.